Mining in Malawi’s first presidential debates

We are less than two weeks away from Malawi’s first tripartite elections, which are to be held on 20 May 2014. Registered voters (here’s how to verify by SMS) will cast their ballots for councillors, parliamentarians and president.

At the second presidential debate, held in Lilongwe on 29 April 2014, presidential candidates were asked how they will make sure that mining and the extractive industries benefit all Malawians.

Joyce Banda, Malawi’s current president and presidential candidate for the People’s Party, was conspicuous by her absence at all three presidential debates. The People’s Party was only represented by Sosten Gwengwe at the first presidential running mate debate held in Lilongwe in March (watch online).

At the second debate, the other 11 parties fielding presidential candidates participated:

The debates were broadcast on television, the radio and the internet. The presidential debates can be downloaded here (audio only). Organisers have been commended for the debates which signal “a positive turn in in Malawi’s political campaigns”.

In the third and final presidential debate, held in Blantyre on 6 May 2014, candidates were asked about their position on taxation. Tax breaks given to foreign companies, including mining companies, investing in Malawi were discussed. See here for The Nation‘s live coverage. The audio is yet to be uploaded online.

Take a look at the Malawi Electoral Information Centre’s Twitter feed to keep abreast of events on election day.